Biography & Early Wealth Journey

Rickards remained a major part of "Arrow" through its seventh season and returned for the series finale in 2020. She also carried Felicity Smoak into the larger Arrowverse, appearing on "The Flash," "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," "Supergirl," and the animated series "Vixen." Away from superhero television, Rickards has appeared in films including the Oscar-nominated "Brooklyn," "Funny Story," "We Need to Talk," "Autumn and the Black Jaguar," and "Calamity Jane." She took on one of the most substantial roles of her post-"Arrow" career when she portrayed pioneering professional wrestler Mildred Burke in the biographical sports drama "Queen of the Ring."

Early Life

Emily Bett Rickards was born on July 24, 1991, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She became involved with musical theater and dance while growing up and graduated from high school early. Rickards subsequently enrolled in the Acting Essentials program at Vancouver Film School and also studied voice at the Alida Vocal Studio.

After completing her training, Rickards attended an open-call audition that helped her secure an agent. One of her earliest professional appearances came in the music video for Nickelback's "Never Gonna Be Alone." She then began accumulating small screen roles and film credits, including appearances in "Flicka: Country Pride" and "Random Acts of Romance."

"Arrow" and Felicity Smoak

Rickards' career changed dramatically in 2012 when she was cast as Felicity Smoak on "Arrow." The role was initially conceived as a single guest appearance, but Rickards' comic timing and chemistry with Stephen Amell generated a strong response from the show's producers and viewers. She was brought back repeatedly during the first season before being promoted to the main cast for season two.

Felicity evolved from a Queen Consolidated IT employee into one of Oliver Queen's closest allies, serving as the technological backbone of Team Arrow and later adopting the codename Overwatch. The character's relationship with Oliver also became one of the show's central storylines. Rickards ultimately appeared alongside an ensemble that included Katie Cassidy and Colton Haynes.

Rickards remained a series regular through the seventh season before announcing that she would leave the show. She returned as a special guest for the 2020 series finale, bringing Felicity's story to a close. Her work on "Arrow" earned her multiple Leo Award and Teen Choice Award nominations, while Rickards and Amell twice won the MTV Fandom Award for Ship of the Year.

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Emily Bett Rickards

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The Arrowverse and Film Career

The popularity of Felicity Smoak allowed Rickards to appear throughout The CW's interconnected DC television universe. She guest-starred opposite Grant Gustin on "The Flash" and also portrayed Felicity on "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" and "Supergirl." She voiced the character in "Vixen" and appeared in the promotional web series "Blood Rush."

Wealth Trajectory & Future Earnings Projections

Rickards simultaneously pursued film roles. She played Kristen Rose in "Cowgirls 'n Angels: Dakota's Summer" and appeared as Patty McGuire in the acclaimed 2015 drama "Brooklyn," which starred Saoirse Ronan. The film received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

She later voiced Caitlin in "Axis" and played Kim in the 2018 independent comedy-drama "Funny Story." Rickards also appeared in "The Clinic" and played Amber in "We Need to Talk." Her performance in the latter project earned her a Best Actress award at the FirstGlance Film Festival.

Stage Work and Post-"Arrow" Career

Rickards has also worked on stage. In 2018, she starred as Kelly in a Vancouver production of Zayd Dohrn's dark comedy "Reborning." She reprised the role when the production moved Off-Broadway to New York's SoHo Playhouse in 2019.

Following the end of her full-time run on "Arrow," Rickards increasingly focused on independent films. She played biology teacher Anja in the family adventure "Autumn and the Black Jaguar" and reunited with Stephen Amell for the Western "Calamity Jane." Rickards played the title character, while Amell portrayed Wild Bill Hickok.

"Queen of the Ring"

Rickards took on a very different kind of leading role when she was cast as legendary professional wrestler Mildred Burke in "Queen of the Ring." Burke became one of the biggest female wrestling stars of the 20th century, competing during an era when women's professional wrestling was prohibited in numerous parts of the United States.

The role required Rickards to undergo extensive physical preparation to portray Burke across several decades of her career. "Queen of the Ring" also featured Josh Lucas as promoter Billy Wolfe, along with Walton Goggins and Tyler Posey. Rickards received the Star on the Horizon Award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival for her performance. The movie received a theatrical release in 2025.

Personal Life

Rickards has generally kept her private life relatively low-profile. In March 2025, she proposed to Riley Howlett during a trip to Tofino, British Columbia, and publicly announced their engagement the following year. Rickards and Howlett married in an outdoor ceremony in July 2026.

Philanthropy

Rickards has supported several charitable and educational causes. She previously participated in a fundraising campaign benefiting the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association and worked with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on a public service announcement promoting research and treatment for spinal cord injuries.

In 2019, Rickards partnered with her alma mater, Vancouver Film School, on a major scholarship initiative for aspiring actors. The program offered two full-tuition acting scholarships and additional partial scholarships, with more than $250,000 in funding available to applicants.

Emily Bett Rickards Net Worth

Bett Rickards

Stephen Amell Net Worth

Amell